Compliance Made Simple Presents: Take 10… Effective Safety Committee Meetings in about 10 Slides Topic of the month: Safe Storage of Materials

First things First: Document Your Meeting Per Your States Requirements Washington Oregon Montana Alaska & Idaho: There are currently no federal and/or state-specific requirements for safety committees in these states.

Why it’s Important to Discuss the Safe Storage of Materials… According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor there are approximately 95 million lost work days each year attributed to warehouse accidents Material handling & forklift accidents are one of the top 3 causes of material handling/forklift accidents. Each year, handling of material accounts for 20% to 45% of all occupational injuries. The most recent National Census of Fatal Occupation Injuries (Sept. 2015) found that of the 708 fatalities resulting from contact related incidents, 34% occurred when workers were struck by falling objects or equipment.

The General “Safe Storage” Requirement: “1910.176(b) Storage of material shall not create a hazard. Bags, containers, bundles, etc., stored in tiers shall be stacked, blocked, interlocked and limited in height so that they are stable and secure against sliding or collapse.”

Safety Spotlight #1: Securing Loose Materials The Hazard: Storage of some materials in our industry can often get moved around, pushed around, and simply jostled over time; loosening and weakening what once safely held them together. If you have things that are likely, or almost certain to fall next time you move them, it is important to safely remove and secure these items before they fall and injure someone. Discussion: Do we have items that need to be safely secured better? Who is assigned to address these matters, and by when?

Safety Spotlight #2: Damaged/Unsafe Racks The Hazard: Racks that come in contact with forklifts and materials can bend and warp over time. What results is inventory that does not safely sit on the arms, thus increasing the likelihood of falling materials. Discussion: Do we have racks that appear to have bent, saggy, uneven, or outright damaged arms? What about racks with poor footings causing instability? Who is assigned to address these matters, and by when?

When in Doubt… Apply The “Follow Your Gut Rule” There are a lot of rules and regulations and it can understandably be hard to keep track of all of them. If you and/or another employee are not sure about the applicable OSHA or state agency rule, apply the following: If it looks unsafe, it probably is. If you are not sure If the racks can hold the weight, assume they can’t. If you wouldn’t stand next to it while another forklift operator brings it down, it probably shouldn’t be stored there. If something is likely to fall off a pallet when you grab it with a forklift, it’s not shrink wrapped, banded, or overall stored safely. If you have employees scared of handling certain stored materials, chances are you have a safety issue, not an employee issue.

Taking Precautions To Prevent Storage Hazards Keep storage areas free from accumulated materials that cause tripping, fires, or explosions, or that may contribute to the harboring of rats and other pests; Separate non-compatible material; and Consider placing banded material on racks, and secure it by stacking, blocking, or interlocking to prevent it from sliding, falling, or collapsing. Any others that apply to should apply to our business?

Safety Through Proper Stacking Review: Are we currently doing the following? Stacking lumber no more than 16 feet high if it is handled manually, and no more than 20 feet if using a forklift; Removing all nails from used lumber before stacking; Stacking and leveling lumber on solidly supported bracing; Ensuring that stacks are stable and self-supporting; Stacking bags and bundles in interlocking rows to keep them secure; and Stacking bagged material by stepping back the layers and cross-keying the bags at least every ten layers (to remove bags from the stack, start from the top row first). Discussion: If we are doing all of the above, what do we need to do to better protect employees from falling materials and/or collapsing loads?

Resources: OSHA Materials Handling & Storage Guide LNI Safety Topics A to Z: Material Handling & Safe Storage OSHA Training: OSHA Requirements to Secure Pallet Racks OSHA: Lumber Sorting, Stacking, and Piling Rules The Business Journals: How to secure your storage racks (and keep OSHA off your back)